Brandon Ringham

Brandon is the Director of Consulting at OneHoop, where he leads a team of practitioners to develop solutions and strategies for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations. He brings his six years of experience of consultancy with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations.

He has worked across various industries, including transportation, public infrastructure, healthcare, government, natural resources, and utilities, and his functional experience includes business strategy, process design and optimization, and holistic human resources and talent management.

As former Co-Lead of the Indigenous Peoples ERG at Accenture Canada, he led the development of cultural awareness training and education programs, safe cultural spaces for Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees, and initiatives, policies, and programs to ensure Indigenous perspectives, values, and worldviews were integrated into business operations for over 5,000 employees.

Brandon identifies as French Canadian and mixed Indigenous, in which is currently in the process of rediscovering his family’s culture, language, tradition, and values. He lives on Treaty 7 territory in Calgary, Alberta with husband, two cats, and his father. In his spare time, he is passionate about health, medicine, and wellbeing, and is often staying active through bouldering, climbing, hiking, and skiing.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Applied Economics from Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, where he focused his studies on income inequality and distribution, labour economics, and energy economics.

Cadmus Delorme

Cadmus Delorme, a Cree and Saulteaux, is a citizen of the Cowessess First Nation. Mr. Delorme was Chief from 2016 to 2023. In 2023 Mr. Delorme received an honorary degree from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Institution. In 2021 Cadmus achieved an Institute of Corporate Director designation, In 2016 he received a Master of Public Administration from the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and in 2013 a Bachelor of Business Administration along with a Certificate in Hospitality, Tourism and Gaming Entertainment Management from the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv).

Mr. Delorme served in several capacities while a student in highschool and university, including vice-president and president. In 2012, Cadmus was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his student leadership and the hospitality he showed to King Charles III and his Queen Consulate Camilla when they visited FNUniv in 2012. In 2022 Mr. Delorme was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee. In 2015 Cadmus was named one of CBC Saskatchewan’s Future 40, which celebrates the province’s new generation of leaders, builders, and change-makers under the age of 40. During Mr. Delorme's time as Chief, his focus was on political sovereignty, economic self-sustainability, and cultural rejuvenation. In April 2023 Mr. Delorme decided to not run for a third term and now is Partner to OneHoop Consulting Group and Partner to Flowing River Capital Group which focuses on enhancing Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #92, Business and Reconciliation. Mr. Delorme lives with his wife Kimberly, brother-in-law, daughter and two sons on the Cowessess First Nation.

LCdr Gary Newman CD

LCdr Newman was born in Fort McMurray, Alberta and grew up in Digby, Nova Scotia. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree from University of Ottawa in 2009, LCdr Newman enrolled in the Royal Canadian Navy via the Direct Entry Officer plan in 2010 as a Naval Warfare Officer.

He earned his Bridge Watchkeeping certificate onboard HMCS TORONTO in 2014, and obtained his Naval Officer Professional Qualification in 2015. LCdr Newman went on to specialize in shipborne communications and served as communications officer in HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN during Op REASSURANCE in 2016 and was later selected to serve in the Cyber Operations and Plans cell at Maritime Forces Atlantic in Halifax. LCdr Newman was appointed as Executive Officer of HMCS GLACE BAY in 2019, and later served as Operations Officer in HMCS TORONTO. LCdr Newman was appointed Executive Officer of HMCS MONCTON in 2021, where he participated in Op PROJECTION WEST AFRICA. Afterwards, LCdr Newman served in shore positions at Canadian Fleet Atlantic as Fleet Operations Officer, and later as Executive Officer, Patrol Vessel Sea Training (Atlantic). LCdr Newman was selected to serve with Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 in the Mediterranean, where he fulfilled the role of Staff Communications Officer in 2024. In his current position, he serves as the Senior Staff Officer, Maritime Warfare Authority at the Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

LCdr Newman is a proud member of Miawpukek First Nation and has volunteered as the National Military Co-chair for the Defense Indigenous Advisory Group since January 2025. He also obtained a Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management from Royal Roads University in 2025, and was awarded his Major Warship Command Qualification in 2023. He serves as secretary of his local ATV club and lives in Stewiacke, NS, with his two children.

Chief Greg Sarazin

Chief Greg Sarazin resides in Pikwakanagan with his wife Helen and youngest son Kaleb. Together they have a blended family of seven children and seven grandchildren.

He was raised in close connection to the land by his father Stanley and mother Jacqueline. He lived and learned traditional ways from an early age including traditional arts and crafts, participating in Pikwakanagan’s early Pow Wows as a dancer and accompanying his father on the hunt and on the trapline. Chief Sarazin continues to be an avid outdoorsman, hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering.

He is a traditional artisan and traditional Algonquin birch bark canoe builder, an art that he learned from his parents.

He is a published author, having penned “220 years of Broken promises”, a chapter in “Drumbeat: Anger and Renewal in Indian Country”, that details the history of broken promises made to the Algonquins of the Ottawa Valley by the Crown.

Chief Sarazin has served Pikwakanagan in many roles, having been elected as Council Member for the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation in the early 1980’s and in the 1990’s and he was elected Chief in 1987. In 1988 he was elected by his peers as Grand Chief of the Southeast Anishinabek Nation.

He was Chief Negotiator of the Algonquin Treaty Negotiations from 1991 to 2001 and was most recently elected Chief of Pikwakanagan in 2023, a post that he currently holds. Along with being the Chief, he is also an Algonquin Negotiation Representative and is currently one of the “Lead” negotiators for the Algonquin Treaty Negotiations

Harry Flaherty

Born on the land and raised in Aujuittuq Nunavut, Mr. Flaherty’s early years in Canada’s most northern civilian community helped develop a strong understanding of the importance of family, community and self-reliance. Harry is recognized as a prominent Inuit business leader advancing economic and career opportunities for Inuit and leading Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (“QC”) as the Region’s economic driver.

Harry Flaherty has served as President and CEO of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (QC) since 2009, leading the organization through a period of growth, strategic diversification, and expanded Inuit participation in Nunavut’s economy. Today, QC is the largest Inuit-owned private employer in the Qikiqtani Region, operating a broad portfolio of subsidiaries, joint ventures, and partnerships that have established QC as a prominent and reliable leader and partner in industrial, institutional, and infrastructure development.

Mr. Flaherty is nationally recognized for his contributions to Indigenous economic development and was inducted into the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement Award - the first Inuk to receive this distinction in the award’s 20-year history. He serves on the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Business Action Committee and the BMO Indigenous Advisory Council, contributing a northern and Inuit perspective to national business and policy discussions.

In addition to his corporate leadership, Mr. Flaherty is an elected member of Iqaluit City Council and serves as Alternate Deputy Mayor. He is known for his pragmatic, partnership-driven approach to resource development that aligns commercial success with Inuit employment, training, and long-term regional benefits.

John Moses

John Moses is a member of the Delaware and Upper Mohawk bands from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory near Brantford, ON. A former director (retired) of repatriation and Indigenous relations at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, QC, he is now an independent Indigenous advisor and consultant to museums and heritage organizations. A Canadian Armed Forces veteran of the former Communicator Research Operator 291 trade, he was awarded the Special Service Medal for operations at CFS Alert. He is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his services to museums. Mr. Moses holds a diploma of applied arts in museum technology, a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies, and a master's degree in Canadian studies.

Judith Bennett

Judith Bennett was appointed to the position of Associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) in September 2024.

Judith has spent her career in service of both defence and asset management interests of Canada. Prior to this appointment, she was Director General, Infrastructure and Environment Engineering Services, where she oversaw major construction project delivery, architecture and engineering services, fire protection and related programs, and nuclear safety. Judith recently served as Director General, Materiel Systems and Supply Chain in the Materiel Group. This complex portfolio is dedicated to meeting the high expectations of Canadian Armed Forces members and Canadians for sound and effective materiel planning and supply chain management.

Judith also held the role of Senior Director for a significant portfolio of major engineering assets across the country, such as bridges, dams, 835 km of the Alaska Highway and the Esquimalt Graving Dock. She also served as the Director, Implementation for the Carling Campus Project - a large-scale office accommodations project to transform National Defence Headquarters into today’s modern, collaborative work environment.

Judith holds an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada and a master’s degree in Complex Project Leadership from the University of Ottawa. She is certified as a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional. Judith is married with two teenagers who don’t clean kitchens. The family enjoys visiting their cottage, outdoor life, and travel.

Kevin Lemke

Kevin joined the Armed Forces in 1983 and is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada (Mechanical Engineering, Class of 1987) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Masters of Science in Material Engineering, Class of 1993). He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for more than 20 years where he completed operational tours as an Aerospace Engineering Officer, including service as the Lead Engineer for Failure Analysis, and as the CC130 fleet Aircraft Engineering Officer.

After his military career, Kevin began as a Project Manager at Cascade Aerospace, and was later promoted to Director of Maintenance and Engineering at Heli-One, and Vice President of Production at IMP Aerospace. Most recently, Kevin returned to Cascade Aerospace and held the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Kevin was named General Manager of SkyAlyne in April 2024.

Originally a native of Longueil, Québec, today Kevin is Ottawa-based. He has had the good fortune to have called six provinces “home” throughout his career. Together with his wife Linda, Kevin has three adult children.

His Workship Mark Sutcliffe

Mark Sutcliffe was born at the Riverside Hospital to parents John and Florence, who were both immigrants to Canada. Mark has lived his whole life in Ottawa. He was elected Mayor of Ottawa on October 24, 2022.

Prior to entering municipal politics, Mark was an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, volunteer, and community activist.

For over 30 years, Mark covered politics and current events as a broadcaster for CFRA, CityNews, Rogers TV, and CPAC, and as executive editor and columnist for the Ottawa Citizen.

Mark started his first business when he was 19 years old. He co-founded the Ottawa Business Journal in 1995 and founded and led several other small and medium-sized businesses. He has been a coach, mentor, and adviser to more than one hundred CEOs, entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and not-for-profit leaders.

Mark has been a passionate volunteer and fundraiser. He served as chair of the board of United Way Ottawa, the Ottawa Board of Trade, OrKidstra, the Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa Community Housing Foundation, and Run Ottawa. He also served as board member for Algonquin College, Invest Ottawa, Kind Ottawa, the Ottawa International Writers Festival, and the Royal Ottawa Hospital Foundation. His contribution to the city was recognized in 2016 when he was inducted into the Order of Ottawa and named the United Way’s Ambassador of the Year. In 2018, Mark delivered a highly regarded TEDx Talk about the role of luck in his life.

Mark is an avid marathon runner who has raised more than $250,000 for Ottawa charities with his fundraising runs. He is the author of four books, including Long Road to Boston, which chronicled his quest to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which he completed in 2015 and 2018. Mark and his wife Ginny have three children.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon was sworn in on July 26, 2021, as Canada’s first Indigenous governor general and the 30th governor general since Confederation. She has gained national and international recognition for her work on Arctic and Indigenous issues and for her efforts in advocating for Inuit rights, youth and culture.

LGen Michael Wright

Born and raised in Southern Ontario, Lieutenant-General Wright enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990 and joined Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in 1994. He has served in all three Canadian Mechanized Brigade Groups and deployed on operations with all three Regular Force infantry regiments. He spent 11 years with 2 PPCLI in Winnipeg and Shilo, commanding at the platoon, company and battalion level. He also served three years with the Second Battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment. He commanded 2 CMBG from 2017–2018. He was Commander CFINTCOM and Chief of Defence Intelligence from June 2021 to July 2024. On promotion to Lieutenant-General in July 2024, he was appointed as the Commander of the Canadian Army.

Operationally he has deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, and served on domestic operations in support of the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2011 Manitoba floods. He was awarded the Medal of Military Valour and the Meritorious Service Medal as a rifle company commander serving with the First Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group in Kandahar Province in 2006–07. From May 2020 to May 2021, he commanded Joint Task Force Impact and Task Force Central, the CAF missions in the Middle East.

Lieutenant-General Wright has served in staff positions as the Chief of Staff of CFINTCOM, J3 of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, Executive Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff, Chief of Staff and G3 of 1 CMBG, as well as positions at the Canadian Army Headquarters and the Canadian Forces Joint Headquarters.

Lieutenant-General Wright holds an Honours Degree in History and Political Science and a Masters of Defence Studies from RMC, is a graduate of the National Security Programme, and has completed the Joint Force Land Component Commander Course at the US Army War College. He and his wife Hilary live in Ottawa and their two adult sons live in Southern Ontario.

Paul Macedo

Paul Macedo is always eager to promote the tremendous work that Cando does as a leading authority on Indigenous Economic Development. In his role as Communications Director, Paul oversees the relationships between Cando and its many partners in the public and private sectors. Paul also oversees the development and distribution of all Cando communications.

Paul has worked with governments of all levels as well as with corporations and non-profit organizations in developing effective and culturally sensitive strategies to communicate with Indigenous people and their communities throughout Canada.

Paul leads a team at Cando dedicated to assisting Indigenous suppliers and communities to participate in procurement opportunities in several areas of focus: Defence Supply Chain, Green Energy and Wrecked and Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels.

Philip Ducharme

Philip Ducharme is currently the Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Procurement at the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. In his role he is responsible for leading Supply Change™, CCIB’s Indigenous Procurement Strategy and the Tools for Indigenous Business (TIB) program.

In the last 30 years, Philip has held several senior roles with various Indigenous organizations across Canada in a variety of sectors including business, health, education, employment and awards and recognition. Philip currently participates on the City of Toronto’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis Procurement Advisory Circle. He is a member of the Supplier Stakeholder Network, Procurement Assistance Canada – Ontario region as well as being a member of the DIAG Indigenous Procurement Working Group.

Philip graduated from the University of Regina in Business Administration.

Philip Ducharme is a proud Métis with all eight of his Great-Grandparents attached to Métis Scrip applications and is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation.

Thomas Benjoe

Thomas Benjoe is an Indigenous Business Leader and Entrepreneur from Muscowpetung First Nation. He is currently a Founding Partner & CEO of Flowing River Capital, an Indigenous Private Equity Firm, and Founding Partner at OneHoop, an Indigenous Advisory firm based in Saskatchewan. Through his leadership, he has grown several multi-million dollar investments across multiple sectors using his unique business models and strategy. Those investments were often made with limited resources and capital and in one such investment he started, scaled and sold Saskatchewan’s first Indigenous tech company for an 1,150% return. Thomas also leads several strategies in Indigenous Engagement, Procurement, Indigenous HR, and Investments. Through the strategies he has built he has helped to unlock many new opportunities for Indigenous business to thrive and Indigenous talent to be built sustainably.

Thomas currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Board of Director of Economic Development Regina, Member of Regina Growth Board, and member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Indigenous Task Group. He also serves on the board of Pathway Supply, Reconciliation Education and Marshall Land Systems.

Thomas received the King Charles III Coronation Medal & Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for contributions to Business & Commerce, was a finalist for the 2023 CANDO Economic Developer of the Year Award, was recognized in The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine as a Top 50 Changemakers in Canada, and was recognized as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Economic Developers by Treaty 4 News.

Thomas also served as United Way “Community Champion”, the recipient of the Crowning Achievement Young Alumni Award from the University of Regina, recognized by CBC's "Future 40", the Red Cross' "Young Humanitarian of the Year", and a "Top Performer" Convention Winner which recognizes the top 1% of RBC employees.

Udlu Hanson

Udloriak Hanson (Udlu) is Vice President of Community & Strategic Development for Baffinland Iron Mines. She served as Deputy Minister of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation for the Government of Nunavut. She also served as Chief Operating Officer with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) as well as NTI’s Chief Negotiator for Devolution. Udlu worked as Senior Advisor to the Clerk of the Executive Council for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on Aboriginal Issues and Arctic Economic Opportunities. She also served as A/Executive Director and Special Advisor to Her Excellency Mary Simon, who was then the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the national organization representing Inuit across Canada. Udlu is co-founder and President of Annauma Community Foundation, Nunavut’s first community foundation. She is a Director Emeritus with the Board of Directors for the Rideau Hall Foundation. She sits on the Governor General’s Advisory Group on Reconciliation. She is also President of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce. Udlu holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Okanagan University College and a Bachelor of Adult Education from Brock University. She was born and raised in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Udlu is a proud recipient of the Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement National Award.

Ann Camberlin

Gilakas’la,

Ann M. Chamberlin, CD, is a proud member of the Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation. Born in Sechelt and raised in Nanaimo, British Columbia, she is a 29‑year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, serving from 1988 to 2017 in locations across Canada, including Chilliwack, Kingston, Borden, Petawawa, Yellowknife, and Cold Lake.

Ms. Chamberlin currently serves as the Indigenous Advisor to Military Personnel Generation Group and the National Civilian Co-Chair of the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group, bringing extensive strategic and operational experience to her role. Her previous appointments include National Aboriginal Recruiting Advisor at Canadian Forces Recruiting Group Headquarters and active involvement with the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group at both local and national levels. These positions have equipped her with a deep understanding of Indigenous perspectives within the defence environment, and the institutional pathways needed to support meaningful change.

With more than 12 years dedicated to the CAF Indigenous Program, Ms. Chamberlin has contributed to initiatives spanning the tactical to strategic levels, including the development and rollout of the Defence Learning Network’s Introduction to Indigenous Cultures Course. Her ongoing leadership has strengthened cultural awareness and advanced reconciliation efforts across the Defence Team.

In recognition of her impact, she received the DM/CDS Defence Team Impact Award for Reconciliation Advancement in October 2022 for her work promoting understanding of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures and fostering respectful relationships between Indigenous and non‑Indigenous members of the Defence Team.

Ms. Chamberlin continues to build enduring partnerships between Indigenous communities and the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces, grounded in the spirit of reconciliation and long‑term relationship building.

Tracy Fleck

Tracy Fleck, a member of Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 territory, joined the Department of National Defence in 2023 as the Director General of Indigenous Affairs. Her career spans federal, provincial, municipal, and First Nations governments, as well as work as an Indigenous lawyer focused on governance and treaty implementation. She has served as a Federal Treaty and Self‑Government Negotiator, Executive Director of Strategic Policy for the BC Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Associate Regional Director General for Indigenous Services Canada in Manitoba, and Director General of the Indigenous Partnerships Office at Natural Resources Canada. Tracy holds an LL.B. from the University of Victoria, an LL.M. from the University of Ottawa, and completed Indigenous Studies at Victoria University of Wellington as an international scholarship recipient. With extensive experience in Indigenous law, policy, and reconciliation, she is committed to strengthening relationships between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian government. Tracy lives in Coast Salish territory with her family and contributes to Indigenous boards and post‑secondary teaching when time permits.

Shannon Hartigan

Shannon is descended from Scottish and French settlers who established themselves in the Mi’kmaw district of Unama’ki or Cape Breton Island. She has spent most of her life in Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island) and now lives in Charlottetown with her soon-to-be 16-year-old. After working several years in the non-profit sector, she joined the federal public service and has been with Veterans Affairs since 2006. Shannon spent a number of years working in program evaluation and audit as well as the commemoration program before joining what is now the Community Engagement Division in 2021. It has been her privilege to be with VAC’s Indigenous Veteran Engagement Team (IVET) since its creation in 2023.

Michaella Montana

Michaella Montana, is an award-winning television host, producer, journalist, model, and a proud member of Frog Lake First Nation. She made history as the first Indigenous host on Canada’s number one entertainment show, Etalk.

Previous to this, Michaella hosted the APTN series, The Other Side. She’s acted in shows like Rabbit Fall and Unsettled. And she’s modeled in major campaigns for brands like RW&Co. and Nordstrom, where she was the first Indigenous woman to be featured on Canada’s largest billboard in Dundas Square, Toronto.

Michaella advocates and is a beacon for increased Indigenous representation within mainstream media, film, and television industries. It is her mission to uplift Indigenous voices and communities in all the work that she does.

Christy Sinclair

A proud Inuk from Canada’s most northerly mainland community, Taloyoak, Nunavut, Christy Nipisha Sinclair has devoted over 30 years to advancing Inuit priorities in business, governance and community development.

Christy has held senior roles including Vice President of Community Air Service at Canadian North and Director of Business Relations at Kitikmeot Corporation and NorTerra Inc. She currently serves as Senior Advisor, Arctic Sovereignty & Security at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Her commitment to community is reflected in her governance service on the boards, at home for Nunavut, as well as internationally. And most recently appointed to the Indigenous Advisory Council of the Major Projects Office.

Christy’s career exemplifies her dedication to Inuit empowerment in business development, governance and community advancement.

Shawn Evans

Shawn Evans, Vice President, Pre-Construction & Pursuits at EllisDon, provides senior leadership on infrastructure programs with a strategic focus on Canada’s defence sector. He leads pursuit strategy, procurement planning, and executive stakeholder engagement for defence initiatives delivered through a range of models, including Modified Design Build, Integrated Project Delivery, and Construction Management frameworks.

With more than a decade of experience supporting the Department of National Defence and Defence Construction Canada projects, Shawn brings deep expertise in aligning procurement strategy with constructability, risk management, and long term project outcomes. He has been instrumental in advancing EllisDon’s defence sector, integrating multidisciplinary teams to deliver reliable, innovative solutions that meet stringent security, schedule, and performance requirements of defence infrastructure.